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KEEP LIFE SIMPLE
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
   ARSENAL V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR [DERBY MATCH] PREDICTION: 3-1 (EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON) A fiery London derby between the Gunners and Spurs. Spurs were poor travellers, but two wins on the trot away from home, against Portsmouth and Man City (in the League Cup) will have bolstered their confidence. However, they will find the Emirates Stadium crowd intimidating, and the league-leaders should win this one comfortably.   ASTON VILLA V MANCHESTER CITY Prediction: 2-1 (VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM) City are reeling from a League Cup quarterfinal exit at the hands of Spurs. Villa themselves are not in great form, but against City who are mediocre travellers, they should see this as an opportunity to get three points and establish themselves as a top-half-of-the-table side. Villa should be able to nick all three points narrowly.    BOLTON WANDERERS V BIRMINGHAM CITY (REEBOK STADIUM, BOLTON) Prediction: 2-1 Both sides are experiencing revivals under their new managers. However, Bolton have been far more impressive, their performances belying their lowly BPL league position. They should be able to continue their impressive run of form against fellow strugglers Birmingham, who are finding it difficult to pick up points on the road. They are also struggling to keep clean sheets and can't defend setpieces properly, which is Bolton's specialty. That could work in the host's favour.
FULHAM VS WIGAN ATHLETIC (CRAVEN COTTAGE, LONDON) Prediction: 1-1 Fulham are the draw specialists of the Premier League, and their inability to convert draws into wins has left them languishing in the dropzone. They have just sacked manager Lawrie Sanchez following a poor run of form, and confidence in the team may be low. Against the Latics who stunned Blackburn 5-3 at home, Fulham should just about manage to scrape a point from this. This could be a drab and boring game of football.
LIVERPOOL VS PORTSMOUTH (ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL) Prediction: 2-1 Both sides are struggling for form at the moment, Liverpool having collapsed to two straight defeats in the League against Reading and Manchester United, while being knocked out of the League Cup by Chelsea. Against Pompey who suffered a dismal 0-1 defeat at home to Spurs, the Reds may just feel the urgency to lift their game and grab three points to stay in the title race.
MIDDLESBROUGH VS WEST HAM UNITED (RIVERSIDE STADIUM, MIDDLESBROUGH) Prediction: 2-2 Boro are in good form at the moment, with two straight wins against Arsenal and Derby propelling themselves up the table. However, an erratic West Ham United side are always a good side on their day, and you never know, this could be one of their good days. They probably have enough to snatch a point from The Riverside, and end their wretched run of form.
READING VS SUNDERLAND (MADEJSKI STADIUM, READING) Prediction: 2-0 Reading are a decent side at home, having picked up five wins and three defeats, two of those defeats by Arsenal and Chelsea. In contrast, Sunderland are a poor team on the road, having failed to pick up maximum points from any of their away games. They shouldn't pose too much threat to an up-and-down Reading side. This should be yet another away defeat for the Black Cats.
MANCHESTER UNITED VS EVERTON (OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER) Prediction: 3-0 United are one of the most potent attacking sides in European football, and domestically they have the best defence as well. Everton are in great form at the moment, unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, winning 11 of those matches. They should be able to hold off the Red Devil's wave of attacks for some time, but once the first goal is scored, the floodgates will open. The hosts should win this easily if they grab an early goal.
NEWCASTLE UNITED VS DERBY COUNTY Newcastle are having a decent run of form, moving into the top half of the table. In contrast, hapless Derby County look set to drop back to the Championship after this season. Derby may have shocked the Magpies 1-0 at Pride Park earlier this season, but the "Toon Army" will be out for revenge and the Rams will have to prepare for another thrashing.
BLACKBURN ROVERS VS CHELSEA Prediction: 1-1 (EWOOD PARK, BLACKBURN) Blackburn Rovers are in poor form at the moment, and their blazing start to the season forgotten. They are no longer the same side that was so tough to beat earlier on. However, against a Blues side whose attack have been severely blunted by the loss of Drogba and Shevchenko to injuries, the hosts could manage a point from this match as long as they cramp the midfield area and prevent the Blues from taking a foothold in the match. Others:UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW (ROUND OF 16) (SCO) FC CELTIC VS FC BARCELONA (ESP) (FRA) OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS VS MANCHESTER UNITED FC (ENG) (GER) FC SCHALKE 04 VS FC PORTO (POR) (ENG) LIVERPOOL FC VS FC INTERNAZIONALE DE MILANO (ITA) (ITA) AS ROMA VS REAL MADRID CF (ESP) (ENG) ARSENAL VS AC MILAN (ITA) (GRE) OLYMPIACOS VS CHELSEA FC (ENG) (TUR) FENERBAHCE VS SEVILLA FC (ESP) Joel at 12/19/2007 01:55:00 PM :: link |
